12 Signs You Have a Hormone Imbalance & How BHRT Can Help!
Weight Gain? Low Sex Drive? No Energy? Natural Hormone Therapy May Help!
Women’s healthcare has indeed made significant strides since the 1800s when female patients were often subjected to dismissive diagnoses like “hysteria” or “the vapors.” Thankfully, recent advancements in medicine, coupled with societal progress, have brought about substantial improvements in how women’s health issues are addressed today.
However, unfortunately, many traditional doctors still continue to dismiss, misdiagnose, and mistreat various health concerns in female patients – particularly in older women. As a result, many women who suffer from low energy, weight gain, joint pain, and more are not properly diagnosed and treated.
But functional medicine doctors – like Dr. Nishath Hakim at Prosperity Health in the Oak Park, MI area – look at each patient as a whole person. This enables them to address the root causes of health concerns – rather than just treat the symptoms. And hormone imbalances are one of the top underlying causes of a wide variety of health issues and physical symptoms.
The good news is that by bringing the body’s hormone levels back into balance, a functional medicine doctor can alleviate a wide array of problems – from weight gain to low libido, and much more. In this article Dr. Nishath Hakim at Prosperity Health in the Oak Park, MI area explores 12 of the most common signs that may indicate you are suffering from a hormone imbalance.
Top 12 Signs of Hormone Imbalance
Hormones are the body’s chemical messengers, responsible for almost every one of the body’s essential functions, from sex drive to metabolism, and from weight gain to mood regulation, and much more. So, when hormones fall out of balance, it can lead to a wide range of health issues.
- Unexplained Weight Gain
Sudden weight gain or difficulty losing weight, especially around the midsection, can be indicative of hormone imbalances, particularly involving estrogen, testosterone, insulin, and thyroid hormones. Rebalancing hormones can both improve metabolism and reverse insulin resistance – assisting patients in losing weight and building muscle in place of fat.
- Fatigue and Low Energy
Persistent fatigue and low energy levels are not a “natural” result of aging. Instead, lack of energy may result from disruptions in adrenal hormones like cortisol, thyroid hormones, and others. Many patients at Prosperity Health in the Oak Park, MI area have regained youthful vitality and stamina with bioidentical hormone replacement therapy (BHRT).
- Mood Swings and Irritability
Hormonal fluctuations can also impact mood regulation. Balancing hormones through hormone replacement therapy can help stabilize emotions.
- Insomnia and Sleep Disturbances
Sleep disruptions can be linked to imbalances in estrogen, as well as melatonin, cortisol, and other sleep-regulating hormones. Dr. Hakim at Prosperity Health in the Oak Park, MI area offers a holistic approach that can improve rest by addressing underlying hormonal issues.
- Hair Loss
Perhaps no sign of hormone imbalance is more frustrating for a woman than hair loss. Thinning hair can be associated with imbalances in thyroid hormones, sex hormones (estrogen and testosterone), or even stress hormones.
But hair loss is NOT something you have to live with! A holistic evaluation and hormone therapy can help reverse hair loss – along with PRP scalp treatments and supplements available at Dr. Hakim’s online Wellevate Store.
- Digestive Issues
Many people do not realize that gastrointestinal problems like bloating, constipation, or diarrhea may be influenced by hormone imbalances. Holistic interventions at Prosperity Health in the Oak Park, MI area focuses on both gut health, including microbiome and intolerance testing, as well as hormonal balance.
- Loss of Sex Drive
Decline in sexual desire does not come just from “getting older” but actually results from the decline in sex hormone production, including testosterone and estrogen, that occurs with age. By restoring and optimizing declining hormonal levels patients with hormone therapy, patients can enjoy a satisfying sex life at any age.
- Irregular Menstrual Cycles
In women of childbearing age, hormone imbalances can also lead to irregular periods, heavy bleeding, or painful menstruation. Holistic management of menstrual problems may include hormonal optimization.
- Brain Fog and Memory Issues
Cognitive symptoms like brain fog and memory problems can result from hormonal imbalances. But recent research has revealed that hormone replacement therapy can help restore cognitive function. In fact, several clinical studies have even shown that restoring hormone balance can help reduce the risk of developing Alzheimer’s Disease.
- Skin Issues; From Breakouts to Wrinkles
Acne, dry skin, or other skin problems may be influenced by imbalances in sex hormone (estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone). This is why adolescents, pregnant woman, and women going through menopause often experience breakouts – because their hormones are out of balance.
Similarly, menopausal women may start to experience aging skin that is wrinkling and sagging, due to hormone decline. Hormone therapy to restore missing hormones can help the body produce the proteins it needs to build and repair skin – both reducing breakouts and keeping it hydrated and supple to ward of premature signs of again.
- Muscle Weakness and Joint Pain
Muscle weakness and joint pain can have many causes. But if arthritis, injury, and other culprits are ruled out, it may simply be a hormone imbalance that is the root cause of your discomfort. Hormones are necessary to both fight inflammation and produce the lubrication that joints need to move without friction.
- Hot Flashes and Night Sweats
Hot flashes are the quintessential symptom of menopause. Fluctuations in sex hormones, especially estrogen, can lead to hot flashes and night sweats.
Addressing the Root Cause of Hormone Imbalance with BHRT
Understanding the root cause of these and many other common signs and symptoms requires a comprehensive approach to wellness. And recognizing the signs of hormone imbalance is crucial to overall health and vitality.
Diagnosing hormone imbalance is a pivotal step in Dr. Hakim’s holistic approach to wellness. Instead of merely treating the symptoms presented, she conducts thorough evaluations, which may include comprehensive blood tests to assess your unique, individual hormone levels, deficiencies, or imbalances.
Diagnosing and identifying hormonal imbalances allows her to create a personalized treatment plan that replaces and rebalances specific hormones with customized Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy (BHRT).
Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy (BHRT)
Unlike synthetic hormones, bioidentical hormones precisely mimic the structure of hormones naturally produced by the body. This similarity enables them to integrate seamlessly with the body’s existing hormone pathways, effectively restoring balance – more effectively and with fewer side effects.
Bioidentical hormone therapy can play a transformative role in alleviating the symptoms associated with hormonal imbalances, including those mentioned earlier and many, many others. However, the benefits of BHRT also extend beyond symptom relief.
By addressing the root causes of hormone decline, bioidentical hormone therapy can help protect against various diseases and conditions. For women, this includes reducing the risk of type 2 diabetes, heart disease, Alzheimer’s Disease, and osteoporosis, among others. This holistic approach not only seeks to improve immediate well-being but also aims for long-term health and vitality.
Hormone Therapy (BHRT) | Oak Park, MI Area
At Prosperity Health in the Oak Park, MI area, Dr. Hakim understands that true healing involves addressing the root causes of health issues, and she is committed to helping her patients achieve optimal balance, both in their bodies and in their lives.
Through a personalized approach that encompasses nutrition, lifestyle adjustments, and, when necessary, Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy, she can help you achieve hormonal harmony and improved health. If you are suffering from any of the symptoms listed above, schedule an appointment at Prosperity Health in the Oak Park, MI area, and take the first step to getting your quality of life back – so you can enjoy life at any age.
